Caramelized Onion And White Cheddar Dip With Apples And Dark Bread Food

BAKED SWEET ONION CHEDDAR DIP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a bowl, mix together the onions, garlic, mayonnaise, yogurt or sour cream, cheddar, and Tabasco (and curry powder, if using).
• Spread into a lightly pan sprayed small-ish baking dish.
• Top with Parmesan and sprinkle with paprika to taste. (Ground ancho chile powder can be substituted for the paprika, for a little more kick. I prefer the ancho.).
• Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Garnish with chopped green onion (scallion).
• Serve hot or warm with crackers, bread, or raw veggie dippers.
• Makes about 6 servings. I usually make a double batch! :).
• Source: I first found a similar recipe to this, which I adapted, from Ron from Worcester at Gail's Recipe Swap.

CARAMELIZED ONION AND WHITE CHEDDAR MAC

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cook the macaroni in boiling water until al dente according to the package instructions, then drain and set aside.
• Fry the bacon in a dry skillet over medium heat, turning several times, until almost crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove and set aside. Pour away all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease. Return the skillet to the heat and add the garlic, onions and thyme. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, then cook over medium-low heat until the onions are golden and caramelized, 12 to 15 minutes.
• While the onions cook, make the cheese sauce for the macaroni. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour, whisking to combine. Cook the flour, stirring, for a minute or so. Continue to whisk as you add the milk, then the heavy cream. Cook until thick and bubbling, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the Cheddar and processed cheese, stirring until completely melted. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Stir in the cooked macaroni until completely coated.
• Add half of the onion mixture to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Top with half of the macaroni mixture. Repeat with another layer of onions and the remaining macaroni mixture. Dot the top with the goat cheese.
• Chop the bacon and toss with the panko breadcrumbs, oregano, rosemary, melted butter and a pinch of salt. Sprinkle over the top of the dish. Bake until bubbly and golden, about 20 minutes.

WHITE CHEDDAR GOUGERES, APPLE PULP, PROSCIUTTO AND SAGE

Steps:

• Prepare the gougeres: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. In a large saucepan, combine the butter, salt and 1 cup water. Stir over high heat until the butter melts completely, then remove the pan from the heat and add all the flour at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until smooth, then transfer to a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed and add the eggs one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Beat in the grated cheese.
• Transfer the dough to a pastry bag, or use 2 wet spoons to drop neat 1-tablespoon mounds onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden and crisp. When done, turn off the oven and let the gougeres dry out in the oven with the door ajar to keep them nice and crisp.
• Cook the apples for the filling: Peel the apples and discard the core; cut into 1/2-inch dice. Melt the butter in a large saute pan over high heat. When foaming, add the spices. They will toast instantly and become fragrant; add the apples and saute for 3 to 4 minutes, until browned. Add 2 tablespoons water, the honey and lemon juice. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the liquid is reduced and the apples are tender. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Set a clean saute pan over medium heat. Add enough olive oil to coat the pan; when hot, fry the sage leaves until crisp and almost transparent, about 1 minute. Drain on paper towels. Add the prosciutto pieces to the same pan in a single layer (work in batches, if necessary). Cook for 1 minute on each side to crisp them up. Drain on paper towels.
• To assemble, carefully tear off the top third of each gougere and spoon in some warm apple filling. Top with a sage leaf and a piece of prosciutto and season lightly with fleur de sel. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with black pepper.

WHITE CHEDDAR CHEESE DIP

Steps:

• In 8-cup measure, combine cheese, flour, dry mustard and onion powder.
• Toss to coat.
• Stir in half-and-half and Worcestershire sauce.
• Microwave at%50 (Medium) for 5 to 7 minutes, or until mixture can be stirred smooth, stirring twice with whisk.
• Set aside.
• Cut to 1 to 1 1/2-inch slice from top of bread.
• Cut around inside of loaf, leaving 1/2 inch of bread around outside.
• Remove center, leaving at least 1 inch of bread on bottom.
• Cut center and top into pieces for dipping.
• Spoon warm cheese mixture into bread shell.
• Sprinkle with paprika.
• Serve with bread cubes and apples slices for dippers.